Chapter 431: Second Level of the True Venerable Tower

As the Raging Wave Sword Intent integrated, the three sword energies rapidly converged, instantly erupting with a sword light no less powerful than that of the projection.

Just as Li Hao thought he could neutralize it with one sword strike, suddenly, the projection also fiercely unleashed three sword energies, similarly incorporating the Raging Wave Sword Intent into them. In an instant, its sword radiance surged, illuminating the entire world.

Li Hao was astonished, his pupils slightly constricted. He immediately sensed the difficulty of the True Venerable Tower's challenge.

Whoosh!

He hurriedly dodged, but the terrifying sword energy cleaved through his sword qi and pursued him relentlessly.

He used Primordial Return Instantaneous Movement, but the projection's eyes seemed to see through his trajectory, the sword light chasing after him.

Li Hao evaded clumsily, narrowly avoiding the sword energy, but the projection followed, also using Primordial Return to pursue.

"Break!"

Li Hao suddenly turned around and attacked.

The projection reacted extremely quickly, instantly slashing with its sword. Despite the hasty attack, with its overwhelming power, it easily shattered Li Hao's fully charged strike.

Whoosh.

The projection didn't stop. As it shattered Li Hao's sword light, it immediately gave chase, rapidly closing in.

Li Hao instantly understood why Old Wang had said it was difficult to achieve enlightenment here. The projection's attacks were relentless, giving no respite. Only when one truly reached a bottleneck and had some insight would there be a chance of enlightenment amidst this fierce battle.

Moreover, if the improvement in strength after enlightenment wasn't significant, it would be difficult to reverse the situation even with enlightenment.

A two-fold power difference was akin to crossing half a major realm.

Li Hao didn't engage in head-on combat. Instead, he chose to evade and observe the weaknesses in the projection's attacks.

"This True Venerable Tower challenge, though a test, seems to also be a form of training!"

Li Hao realized in his heart.

This was an excellent opportunity to examine himself.

At this moment, the projection's performance might even be more perfect than his own, but everything had flaws and weaknesses. If he could identify and compensate for them, perhaps that was the true intention of the test, to allow his own strength to reach a new level.

However, even while evading and dodging, Li Hao was finding it extremely strenuous.

"Power, speed, movement technique, all doubled!"

"It's faster, and it knows all the movement techniques I know, and with double the power, it utilizes them even more freely!"

"However…"

Li Hao desperately dodged, continuously using Primordial Return Instantaneous Movement. The Stellar Veins surrounded him, providing constant energy. Although his movement technique was only at the ninth level, and surpassed by the projection, the near-infinite energy allowed him to continuously use Primordial Return Instantaneous Movement, barely creating a sliver of breathing space.

"Final Realm power, this projection hasn't enhanced it!"

Li Hao gradually observed the projection's situation. The power of the Stellar Veins had not been enhanced.

The Final Realm… it truly seemed to be the ultimate limit.

Even this immortal treasure used by the Immortal Emperor to select disciples couldn't project power beyond the Final Realm!

"If I can cultivate all realms to the Final Realm, wouldn't the challenge of this True Venerable Tower… be equivalent to no enhancement, just fighting myself?"

Li Hao thought to himself.

But that situation was too ideal, too distant for him currently. Cultivating to the Final Realm was extremely difficult. Achieving the Final Realm in one path was already rare. To cultivate all of them to the Final Realm, Li Hao estimated that only an Immortal Emperor level being might be able to accomplish it.

Currently, apart from the Stellar Veins, what the projection surpassed Li Hao in was the strength intensity of other realms.

Boom!

Suddenly, the projection's body swelled, unleashing the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form!

At the same time, a Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect slowly materialized behind it. Surrounding the Dharma Aspect were the Dharma Aspects of Sages, like phantoms, continuously transmitting Saintly Dao power.

Li Hao's expression slightly changed. Without hesitation, he unleashed his own Dharma Form as well.

Soon, within this vast world, two towering figures stood, engaging in a great battle.

The Dharma Form power they unleashed was almost equal. Li Hao was pleasantly surprised, realizing that his Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect seemed to have also touched upon the Final Realm.

"Sword Dao, the projection's Sword Dao power is too strong. Although it's still at the tenth level, its sword intent is stronger than mine."

After a brief exchange, Li Hao was still unable to defeat it and could only dodge.

Fortunately, the Primordial Return Extreme Realm, sustained by the Stellar Veins, allowed him to continuously teleport, enabling him to persist.

Even though the projection had twice his movement speed, it still couldn't break through the barrier of the Primordial Return Extreme Realm.

"Unfortunately, this test requires defeating the projection. If it was just about enduring for a certain time, I could probably pass it in one go."

Li Hao mused inwardly.

While continuously dodging, he continued to observe the projection's attacks, but the more he watched, the more astonished he became. He couldn't find any openings.

"Am I usually this strong?" Li Hao was speechless, unsure whether to be happy or wryly smile.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Li Hao still hadn't found any weakness in the projection, and no opportunity to counterattack. He began to feel puzzled and frustrated.

If he were to embed the newly comprehended Transcendent Chess Heart into his movement technique, he could certainly have a chance to turn the tables. But that would ultimately be a bit of cheating.

Aside from that method, it was truly difficult to defeat this projection.

"But since the Immortal Emperor set up such a test, there must be people who can pass it. Besides, this test is only to become his registered disciple, a mere registered disciple's test... failing to pass it would be too exaggerated…"

Li Hao's eyes flickered. He suppressed the thought of using the Transcendent Chess Heart, wanting to try again relying on his own abilities.

As he continued to dodge, Li Hao saw the projection use various methods to chase and intercept him, but none worked.

Suddenly, his thoughts shifted. The projection was already so powerful, yet it couldn't kill him for so long, precisely because he had the Stellar Veins. His energy was nearly inexhaustible, allowing the Primordial Return Extreme Realm to be used continuously. If it were someone else, they would have long been drained dry.

"In my eyes, this projection is troublesome. But from the projection's perspective, perhaps I am even more troublesome. Its power is higher than mine, yet it can't kill me…"

Li Hao's eyes gleamed. He slowly began to examine himself, to utilize his own advantages.

He suddenly thought of the chess game duel with Old Wang earlier.

Old Wang's chess skill was extremely profound, clearly surpassing his own. Even now, with Li Hao's Chess Dao at the tenth level, looking back at Old Wang's chess skill, he felt that the opponent wasn't just at the tenth level, but at an even higher realm.

He had been able to win previously because Old Wang had underestimated him and gambled that he wouldn't be able to see through the flaw.

If they faced off again, Li Hao still wouldn't be confident of winning.

And the reason he won before… was because Li Hao utilized his limited strength to launch a charge.

When your strength is weaker than your opponent's, to achieve victory against the odds, you must concentrate on one point and unleash all your power!

For this, everything else must be sacrificed, abandoned!

"My advantage lies in my Stellar Veins…"

"It's the Final Realm power of the Stellar Veins that has allowed me to persist until now. Since my power is inexhaustible, then…"

"Combat is also a game of strategy, wielding the sword is like making a move on the chessboard…"

Li Hao's eyes shone. In that instant, even as he was desperately and rapidly using Primordial Return to dodge, he felt a sudden sense of peace in his heart, extremely serene.

He suddenly increased the speed of his Primordial Return Instantaneous Movement again, continuously flickering in the void.

The projection also unleashed its full speed, chasing after him. Although its sword intent was extremely fast and powerful, if it couldn't touch Li Hao, it was all in vain.

As he flickered, Li Hao's movements gradually changed. If viewed from high above, one would discover that Li Hao's Primordial Return Instantaneous Movement route wasn't chaotic, but gradually became regular and formed a pattern!

It was a picture, and also a chess game.

The path left behind streaks of sword energy along the way from Li Hao's teleports. As he continuously used Primordial Return Instantaneous Movement, more and more sword energies were left behind. When Li Hao stepped out of Primordial Return again, he stood in the center of this chessboard.

He himself was the piece, constructing a chess game, forming a terrifying sword formation!

"Explode!"

Li Hao no longer continued to flee. Instead, he suddenly turned around, staring at the projection, and fiercely unleashed all his power. Divine blood burned and surged, the heart in his chest burning like ignited flames, beating violently.

As his sword light furiously slashed out, thousands upon thousands of sword energies gathered from the void, coalescing and merging together. All of this erupted in an instant.

The projection's desire to attack was extremely strong. Li Hao remembered Old Wang saying this, and he had also observed it throughout. This was a point that made the projection a nightmare for challengers, offering no chance to breathe. But equally… an advantage was also a weakness, presence was absence!

This point was precisely the projection's weakness!

Facing Li Hao's sword attack, the projection's first reaction wasn't to escape, not to use Primordial Return to dodge, but to counter-attack, to overwhelm with even more violent attacks!

But this time, tens of thousands of sword energies converged. In an instant, the sword radiance erupted from Li Hao's swing, driven by ten thousand sword energies, its terrifyingly sharp aura instantly eclipsing the projection's sword radiance.

This sword, Li Hao was willing to call it his strongest!

Boom!

In an instant, the projection's sword light shattered. Its body was engulfed by the sword radiance and instantly disintegrated, falling apart. At the moment the projection shattered, Li Hao's primordial spirit shot out, drawing upon the sword dao's remaining force, directly pulverizing the projection's primordial spirit!

Sword intent dissipated in the world.

Like a gust of wind blowing past, gently lifting Li Hao's hair, the world became quiet, leaving only Li Hao's own breathing.

He stared at the shattered and dissipated projection, feeling somewhat dazed, and somewhat incredulous that he had succeeded!

Without relying on the Transcendent Chess Heart, purely relying on his combat intuition, he had found a way to break the deadlock in this impossible and dangerous situation.

"Exhilarating!"

Li Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud, for the first time feeling the joy of battle, as exhilarating as playing chess.

At this moment, a vortex appeared in the void where the projection had dissipated, faintly resembling a door.

The challenge is over, should I go out now?

Li Hao smiled slightly, dispelling the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form. His body returned to its original size, his aura converged, and the various extreme realm powers slowly sank back into his body.

At this moment, waves of mental fatigue surged up. Although the Stellar Veins could provide Li Hao with inexhaustible power, the intense battle just now caused mental exhaustion that he needed to relieve himself. Fortunately, his primordial spirit was extremely strong, his mental power far exceeding Saint-level. Otherwise, just the fatigue at this moment would be enough to make someone fall asleep.

After resting for a short while, Li Hao finally stepped towards the vortex door.

Soon, as if stepping into an abyss, his body felt a sense of weightlessness.

Not long after, light reappeared before his eyes, and his sealed senses were unlocked.

Li Hao looked around, expecting to see the people outside the tower, but suddenly froze.

Before him was a pitch-black and majestic palace. Around him, everything was dark, like cast iron walls, with dim light.

And directly in front of him was a purple, glowing pillar!

On the pillar, purple light flickered like earthworms, resembling the patterns of some great Dao.

Li Hao glanced around and saw faint light shining in the distance through several windowless openings.

He flew up and looked out from the opening, seeing the vast plains in the distance, and the towering giant palace.

On the other side, Li Hao saw the numerous futons in the distance, and the people seated on them.

But at this moment, many of them stood up, craning their necks and staring in this direction.

Among them, Li Hao also saw Old Wang, standing in the air above everyone, also quietly observing this place.

When his gaze met Old Wang's, Old Wang's somewhat absent-minded expression faltered slightly, and a trace of surprise and shock appeared in his eyes.

"I'm still inside the tower?"

Seeing this scene, Li Hao confirmed his location. He was still inside the True Venerable Tower.

Could this pillar be the door to teleport out?

Old Wang didn't seem to have told him how to get out after completing the challenge. Perhaps he thought it was too simple and didn't need to say more?

Li Hao scanned around and saw nothing else. The answer was obvious.

He came to the pillar and examined it carefully, discovering spatial Dao power on it, typically used in teleportation locations.

He reached out and touched it, using his Dao power to activate the spatial Dao power on it.

Soon, a suction force came from within the pillar, dragging Li Hao's body inside.

Whoosh!

When Li Hao opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the same vast world as before.

However, unlike before, the pillar he had just seen was also floating in this sky, towering and majestic.

As Li Hao was stunned, the purple dim light on the pillar rapidly converged, focusing at a point in front of the pillar, and then slowly condensed, transforming into a figure.

That figure was exactly the same as Li Hao, undoubtedly the projection.

"…?"

Li Hao was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Could it be that the previous challenge didn't count?

However, before he could think further, after the projection materialized, it slightly bowed to Li Hao, making a gesture of invitation. Then, it seemed to suddenly erupt with terrifying power.

Brilliant golden light erupted, silver hair flying, the projection's aura surged rapidly, climbing higher and higher. In Li Hao's shocked gaze, it became even stronger, even more terrifying than before!

If it was previously only twice as powerful as him, now, the projection's aura was at least five times greater!

This five times was not five times of an ordinary Supreme Saint, but five times of Li Hao himself, extremely exaggerated.

If there were True Immortal Realm ancient demons here, they would be instantly killed by this projection!

Even a group of ancient demons would probably be instantly killed and swept away!

Li Hao was dumbstruck. What was going on?

Before he could curse, the projection before him had already rapidly attacked.

Whoosh!

Li Hao instinctively dodged, using Primordial Return Extreme Realm Instantaneous Movement.

But at this moment, the projection directly mobilized the power of heaven and earth, instantly severing Primordial Return. The powerful force forced Li Hao directly out of his Primordial Return teleport.

Then, the projection instantly condensed a heaven-and-earth aura, transforming it into a massive sword radiance, which descended before Li Hao as soon as he reacted, instantly striking down.

Boom!

Unsurprisingly, Li Hao felt his physical body shatter. Furthermore, a terrifying primordial spirit power assaulted him, crushing his primordial spirit in an instant as well.

The world fell silent.

Darkness appeared before Li Hao's eyes, but faint light gradually became clearer in the darkness.

This light was coming from behind him. Li Hao turned his head and saw the tower door he had just stepped through, only a few steps away from him.

It seemed he had always been standing here, and everything just now had been a nightmare.

Li Hao was in a daze, his heart filled with questions. He looked at the deep darkness ahead, faintly sensing a restrictive force, preventing him from going forward. But in that darkness, there was a dim purple light, like the light on the pillar he had seen earlier, flickering.

Li Hao scratched his head and turned around to walk out of the tower door. If he had questions, he could find Old Wang, and he would surely get answers.

At the futons, everyone saw the True Venerable Tower's door open. Not long after, Li Hao's figure walked out from inside, still shaking his head to himself, seemingly with a helpless and confused expression. Seeing this scene, everyone felt the heart that had been hanging in their chests finally drop.

Someone had timed it from when Li Hao entered until now. A whole incense stick had burned!

For a first-time entry, to actually stay inside for so long, it almost made them suspect that Li Hao had cleared the level inside.

If it weren't for what Sage Ming and Sage Mu had said, that once inside, one would directly engage in combat with the projection and couldn't possibly delay, they would have suspected that Li Hao was taking a tour inside.

"He finally came out. That was too long. Who was keeping time?"

"Almost two incense sticks!"

"..."

Hearing Dong Dao's reported time, everyone was speechless.

Sage Lin stared at the young man flying over, glancing back every three steps, his expression extremely complex. He still vividly remembered not long ago, when he was challenging the True Venerable Tower, and the other party was sitting there playing chess, not paying any attention to him at all, appearing completely indifferent. At that time, he had felt dissatisfied and disdainful, but at this moment, he felt a sense of humiliation.

"Cleared the first trial in three years, this True Venerable Tower... he wouldn't clear it in just a few years too, would he?"

Sage Luo whispered, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of confusion.

If that were the case, what were they still working hard for?

Compared to these monsters, it would be better to just give up.

Sage Luo's words also made the other Sages' mouths twitch slightly.

They had worked hard here for tens of thousands of years. In the end, was it all for nothing?

Racing against this kind of guy seemed a bit too difficult.

Sage Mu and Sage Ming's expressions were gloomy. They stared at the young man, a hint of anger and killing intent faintly emerging in their eyes, but they quickly restrained it.

They knew that under Old Wang's watchful eye, if they really tried anything, the outcome would be even worse.

But… was this Immortal Emperor's Dao lineage going to be handed over to someone else?

While their expressions were shifting, Li Hao had also returned to the futons. Several hundred meters away from the True Venerable Tower, he saw the tower door automatically close.

At this moment, Li Hao looked at the people on the futons, seeing Sage Hua and Sage You control their complicated expressions and offer him smiles. Li Hao also smiled back in response, knowing that they had no ulterior motives.

He had just sensed several hidden killing intents, but they had quickly disappeared. Li Hao knew that his sharp brilliance had probably attracted unwanted attention from others with ill intentions. Excessive brilliance was bound to attract jealousy, this was the law of all things, and no one could avoid it.

However, with Old Wang in charge and his own strength, he wasn't afraid of others' schemes.

After all, thinking was harmless, but if there were tangible actions, then he wouldn't be so courteous.

"You小子 (little brat)..."

Old Wang looked at Li Hao as he arrived, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He couldn't help but sigh softly.

(End of chapter)